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Baklava, Sweet & Savory
Many people are familiar with Baklava, the thin sheets of filo dough layered with nuts and butter. But, are you familiar with Baklava’s Savory Sister, Börek? If we go all the way back, way waaaay back to when the Turkic…
Building a Turkish Pantry: Spices, Supplies, & Tips
She collects the spices and aromas that the Assyrian gathers, and the rich Arab; those that are harvested by the Pygmy peoples and by India, and that grow in the soft bosom of the Sabaen land. She collects cinnamon,…
Sweet Deliveries: Love in a box delivered to your doorstep
‘Tis the season to be Jolly! For me, delivering sweet treats to unsuspecting people around the holidays makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. I love the surprised look on their face when they realized that someone thought to send…
Nazar, Blue beads & Superstitions
Growing up, I was always being pinned with these blue beads or given necklaces with the evil eye pendant. It happened so much that I remember asking my mom why I was being given more of these talismans and not…
Taze Fasulye: Green Beans get a makeover when they do the tango with tomatoes!
Before we would leave for our vacation to Turkey in the summers, we would always call my grandparents just before for last minute requests. Each time, my grandmother would ask me what I would like her to make for my…
Some Like it Hot: Turkish Pepper, Various kinds & how to use them
When I was young, my grandmother would teach me and my cousins how to eat hot peppers. I remember sitting outside in the garden and my grandmother would take one of the long, thin green hot peppers, Sivri Biber. She…
Sugar & Syrup: How they can make or break your baklava
If, seeing the beauty of the sugar cane, the heart pours out its blessings Sweetness and flavor begin to shout aloud from the root of every tooth. ~Rumi My dad used to tell me stories of growing up in Adana…
Gözleme, Turkish stuffed flatbread
Last week was all about cooking comfort food for the freezer. After cooking up a big batch of spinich and onions, it was time to make the dough for some Gözleme. I ended up making a double batch of dough…
Going Nuts!
Most people believe that baklava is just about walnuts or pistachios. However, baklava varies depending on their regions. Let’s take Turkey, for example. Istanbul baklava is predominately walnut, but it you travel up north to the Black Sea region-hazelnuts dominate.…
Kadayīf, Künefe, & Warm Cheesy Sweet Gooeyness
So, I have the habit of describing kadayif dough as a sort of “shredded filo dough.” Totally and absolutely wrong. Historically speaking, the root word for kadayif is arabic for a sort of crepe. Turks call this dough “tel kadayif”…
Fava, The Ancient Magical Bean
Rumor has it that it was the fava bean that Jack used to grow his giant beanstalk in the favorite fairy tales. Not surprising since the fava bean stalk can grow over 6 feet tall! This ancient bean from Asia…
Lifting spirits and spreading sweetness
Over the past week, we have gone from meeting friends out for coffee and lunch to home, turning to Zoom to feel connected even though there are miles between us. Not only did I feel the need to be creative,…
